Jcavinato From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 516 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (7 years 4 months 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 2953 times:
You always remember your first. EAL was my first commercial flight: a Connie on the shuttle from Newark to National. Spring 1962. The fare was $15.
I was in college in Washington, DC. My room mate was from Bayonne, New Jersey. His mother would call him and tell him to meet a certain shuttle arrival at National. She would tell him what the suitcase or gym bag she was sending. It was always filled with freshly baked cookies, fruit, or other goodies. At times he even sent laundary up to her and she would return it a day later. Crazy but it worked. One hour and fifteen minute delivery, 200 miles. FEDEX can't even beat that today.
Gone are those days where you simply put your bags on a cart, boarded the plane, and paid enflight.
727LOVER From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5715 posts, RR: 20 Reply 5, posted (7 years 4 months 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 2881 times:
Damn WDBRR, you beat me to it!!!!! I had 3 threads planned. Oh well.
WDBRR From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 604 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (7 years 4 months 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 2860 times:
Quoting 727LOVER (Reply 5): Damn WDBRR, you beat me to it!!!!! I had 3 threads planned. Oh well.
I waited until midnight like a ball drop to post this thread.
I am glad I had the opportunity to work for them.
I still have my SystemOne training manual and many
other items that I will never discard.
Jetdeltamsy From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 2984 posts, RR: 8 Reply 8, posted (7 years 4 months 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 2860 times:
Quoting WDBRR (Thread starter): "The Wings of Man." had ceased all operations. any thoughts or comments?
It was one of the saddest days of my life. I was en route to Los Angeles when we were given word that the airline was shutting down.
Eastern was a place where one could have fun at work. We (labor) would argue with management all week long, then meet the same people in Cancun or San Juan and party all weekend long.
My best work memories are those from when I was with Eastern.
Worked for too many airlines to list. Banktupcy after bankruptcy after bankruptcy.
727LOVER From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5715 posts, RR: 20 Reply 9, posted (7 years 4 months 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 2839 times:
Globalflyer From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 800 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (7 years 4 months 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 2545 times:
Well I must say that 15 years ago tonight I was working the gates at ATL for Eastern and it turned out to be the saddest night in my aviation career. Just a note to all A.Neters out there that may have had ties, that it really was a good run and I CANNOT believe that it has been 15 years since the "Wings of Man" flew. Hope that all of my former EAL colleagues are doing well! R.I.P EA Jan 18 1991.
Cheers and thanks for a great run!
Landing on every Continent almost on an annual basis!
Cadet57 From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 9081 posts, RR: 34 Reply 13, posted (7 years 4 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 2518 times:
Never got to fly EA myself, but my gradfather always told me about Eastern espically about down to the caribiean and other faraway places Id never herd of as a kid. But it seems like they were a great airline and Im sure I have no idea the impact it had on you folks but im sorry for your loss.
Doors open, right hand side, next stop is Springfield.
PHLBOS From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 7251 posts, RR: 25 Reply 14, posted (7 years 4 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 2501 times:
The main memory of Eastern Airlines I have is that it was my first flight; on a family trip to see my grandparents during Christmas Break 1971-1972 (I was 6 at the time). After that, most of my memories of EA were from family spotting trips at BOS during the '70s; saw many a-noisy (pre-hushkit days) DC-9s & 727s leaving smoketrails while approaching 22L.
"TransEastern! You'll feel like you've never left the ground because we treat you like dirt!" SNL Parady ad circa 1981
Gr8SlvrFlt From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 1583 posts, RR: 16 Reply 16, posted (7 years 4 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 2418 times:
I arrived on a long layover (turned out to be a very long layover) in Toronto on the 17th. Eastern bought us tickets home on USAir on the 19th.
I was looking at my manual just the other day; the last bulletin (dated 11/23/90) covered the newly reconfigured A300s with 48 First Class seats. One shortly before that covered the increased minumum crew due to expanded First Class on the narrow-bodies with two F/As dedicted to First: DC-9-30 - three or four; DC-9-50 - four or five; 727-200 - five; 757-200 - five or six! My how times have changed!
Dutchjet From Netherlands, joined Oct 2000, 7864 posts, RR: 58 Reply 17, posted (7 years 4 months 2 days ago) and read 2393 times:
15 years - time does fly. I do miss Eastern, and have special memories as my first flights were on EA, as a small child, I can recall flying between NYC and Florida on EA's DC8s, 720s and 727s - and I can remember being so excited to fly on Eastern's DC-8-61s between JFK and MIA, after all, it was way cool to be flying on the largest pax aircraft back then.
APFPilot1985 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (7 years 4 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 2233 times:
My mom was working for an EAL express carrier at the time (owned by lorenzo as well) Great memories of growing up around that and it's what got me hooked on aviation. After having read and studied the situation with Charlie Bryant there are a lot of things I would like to say about him, but I don't want to get banned.
NW305 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 21, posted (7 years 4 months 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 2039 times:
I flew Eastern on June 4, 1979 from CAE to ATL and again on June 16, 1979
from ATL to CAE. Both flights were operated with the DC-9-30 and had a great time. I was 13 at the time and flying alone to visit relatives in Memphis.
Flyguy1 From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 1691 posts, RR: 4 Reply 22, posted (7 years 4 months 1 day ago) and read 1857 times:
My first flight also was on EA, back in 1986. My parents and I, flew JFK-FLL on an L1011, back was a 727. I was already getting into aviation at the time, though only 6 years old. After these flights, my interest really took off Pun intended. Around 3 years later, my new upstairs neighbor, ended up being an EAL worker here at JFK. His son was around my age, and he would take us to the big EAL hangar at JFK every so often. My best memory from this, was the one time Concorde was parked in their hangar. We got to walk on board, though not airborne, not many people can say they have been on board
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From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 604 posts, 
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From Netherlands, joined Oct 2000, 7864 posts, 
Pun intended. Around 3 years later, my new upstairs neighbor, ended up being an EAL worker here at JFK. His son was around my age, and he would take us to the big EAL hangar at JFK every so often. My best memory from this, was the one time Concorde was parked in their hangar. We got to walk on board, though not airborne, not many people can say they have been on board 
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